Come December, and tourists to Kalimpong will have the opportunity to join the two-day Orange Festival hosted by the state horticulture department to promote the hill fruit.

This year, the third edition of the Orange Festival will be held on December 14 and 15 in Kalimpong. For the first time, the festival will be held outside Darjeeling district.

Samuel Rai, the director of the cinchona and other medicinal plants, who is based in Mungpoo, a hamlet around 50km from here known for its orange plantations, said: “Our directorate, in association with the district administration, will host the festival in Kalimpong. Last week, the state horticulture minister was here and during his visit, the decision was made.”

Arup Roy, the state minister for horticulture, had been to Mungpoo, when it was planned that the orange festival would be held on December 14 and 15.

Those associated with orange cultivation said the orange grown in the Darjeeling hills is smaller in size but considered superior in quality to that cultivated in Nagpur.

“The hill orange variety is sweeter and juicier. It has a steady demand during winter. However, over the years, its production has declined because of pest attacks and other diseases,” said a grower.

As of now, oranges are cultivated in some 1,200 acres across the hills.

Rai said that the department has taken some initiatives to increase orange production.

“The main aim of the two-day festival is to encourage cultivators as well as apprise them on new cultivation techniques so that they can grow a better quality fruit in more quantities and less time. It will also help us understand their problems,” he said.

During the festival, oranges grown in the hills and certain food products that are locally made will be displayed for visitors. “Visitors will also be encouraged to take a trip to orange plantations that are rare in most parts of the country,” said a source.

Minister Roy said the state government was putting in every effort to increase orange production in the hills.

“Like Darjeeling tea, Darjeeling oranges are also popular. We are exploring options to increase production, consulting with experts and extending necessary help to growers,” said Roy.